2026 METROPOLIS Lab Showcases Sustainable Innovations at NeoCon

The METROPOLIS Sustainability Lab returned to NeoCon for its sixth consecutive year, inviting architects, interior designers, and product innovators to explore how playful creativity can intersect with environmentally‑friendly material choices. Hosted on the 11th floor of the Mart, the exhibition carried the theme “Good is Fun,” emphasizing imagination as a catalyst for planet‑positive design and encouraging participants to experiment beyond conventional expectations.

Interactive exhibits and material experiments

More than 20 product displays showcased biobased and nature‑derived solutions, ranging from renewable resins and bio‑based polymers to low‑VOC finishes that improve indoor air quality. A curated showcase highlighted cutting‑edge biobased products, while partner activations from Carnegie, Ekoa by Lingrove, and Garden on the Wall demonstrated health‑focused design approaches that prioritize both sustainability and occupant wellbeing.

Attendees took part in the Good is Fun Material Palette Challenge, mixing samples to create custom palettes that could be applied to future projects. The hands‑on exercise encouraged bold experimentation, and several designers left with new material combinations to test in upcoming commissions. The lab’s café offered a surprisingly relaxed spot for informal discussions, providing a quiet oasis that is rarely found amid a busy trade floor.

One installation from Model No. featured 3D‑printed furniture made from plant‑based corn resin. The piece illustrated how advanced manufacturing can pair with renewable inputs to cut environmental impact without sacrificing aesthetics, offering a tangible example of circular design in practice.

Designers left inspired.

Guided tours, award‑winning projects, and community engagement

Avi Rajagopal, editor‑in‑chief, led two Sustainability Lab Crawls that deepened visitor engagement. The first, a Lunch + Lab tour, gathered over 70 architects and interior designers for a guided walk through the exhibits, prompting lively conversations about emerging sustainable strategies and encouraging participants to share real‑world challenges. The second crawl introduced members of the First NeoCon community to the showcased innovations, supporting a sense of inclusion for newer entrants to the trade.

An exhibit of METROPOLIS Planet Positive Award–winning projects rounded out the experience, highlighting excellence in sustainable, healthy, and equitable design across the built environment.

The list of lab partners read like a who’s‑who of the industry: Arper, Behr, Bentley, Camira, Carnegie + Kirei, Duvaltex, Ekoa, Excel, Garden on the Wall, Loll Designs, Mannington Commercial, Material Bank, Milliken, Mohawk Group, Model No., Pallas, Parador, Real American Hardwood, Room&Board for Business, Shaw Contract, Tate, Turf Design, and Unika Vaev. Their collective presence highlighted the breadth of sustainable options now available to specifiers, showing that a wide array of manufacturers are committed to low‑impact solutions.

By the end of the week, thousands of visitors had explored the installations, engaged in dialogue with experts, and taken away practical resources for greener design. The event demonstrated that sustainability does not have to be solemn; it can be interactive, enjoyable, and directly applicable to everyday design decisions, reinforcing the idea that environmental responsibility and creativity can coexist harmoniously.